Thread controlling mechanism for sewing machines



Feb. 28, 1933. w. M. HANNEMAN 1,899,802

THREAD CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Sept. 8, 1928 4 Sfieets-Sheet l flail attozmw Feb. 28, 1933. w HANNEMAN 1,899,802

THREAD CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Sept. 8. 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 28, 1933; w HANNEMAN' 1,899,802

THREAD CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Sept. 8, 1928 4 Shee ts-Sheet 5 i L916. Fa /0 9 UH! W I h I m 20 17 3 o 14 1; l9

9 60:55, I Z2 I v I I I gnmntor Feb. 28, 1933. w. M. HANNEMAN 1,899,802

THREAD CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Sept. 8, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Feb. 28, 1933' umrsn srArss PATENT. oFFicn-f WALTER M. HANNEMAN, or EVANSVILLE, IifDiANA, Assrenon TO union SPECIAL J l MACHINE ccMrnNY, or CHICAGO, rumors, nkoon-ronnrron or ILnInoIs' THREAD CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR SEVJING MACHINES Application filed September A further object of the invention is to provide a thread controlling mechanism of the above type having an inner thread guide and an outer thread guide which are stationary and positioned so as to maintain the thread in engagement with the rotating thread controlling element and wherein the inner thread guide is so constructed that it may be readily threaded. 1

A further object of the invention is toprovide a thread controlling mechanism of the above type wherein the inner and outer thread guides are independently adjustable.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a thread controlling mechanism of v the above type wherein the stationary thread cam is mounted for circumferential adjustment relative to the rotating thread cam.

Theseand other objects will in part be ob.- vious and will in part be hereinafter more fully disclosed. 1

In the drawings which show by way of i1- lustration one embodiment of the invention j I Fig. 1 is aplan view of the parts of a portion of a sewing machine embodying the improvements.

Fig. 2 is a view showing more or less diagrammatically the position of the thread controlling element and the parts immediately associated therewithwhen the looper is at the forward end of its stroke.

Fig. 3 is a view showing diagrammatically the position of the needle and looper when the. controller is in the position illustrated in Fig. 2. a

s, 1928.: Serial No. 304,633.". 1 i

Fig. 4 is a sectional vie ivon the line 4-4 of Figp:

Fig. 5 is a v ew similar-to Fig. 2, butshowingthe iooper and needlepositioned so that the needle point is well into the looper thread triangle. j i j Fig. 6v is a, view shov-Iing the position of the needle and looperw-hen the controller in'the position shown in llig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a sectional Vl6W=-.Ol1 the line 7"( of Fig. 5-. j

Fig. 8 is a view, of the thread controller when the looper is at the rear end of its stroke. Fig. 9 is a plan view of the thread controller at the. time when the looper is just entering the needle thread loop. j i

j F in. a sectional View on the line 10-10 Fig. 11 is a plan view of the inner thread guide, the stationary thread cam,, andthe means for supporting the same. I

' Fig. 12 is a sectionalview on the line 12-42 of Fig. 1 showing the manner of mounting. the outer thread guide. 7

'Fig; 13 is a development of thread controlling cam. I 1

The invention is directed to a thread con-' troller for sewing machines andmorepanticularly to a thread controlling mechanism for the looper thread ofa sewing machine.

This thread controlling mechanism includes a rotary thread controlling cam provided with a supporting disc and .a laterally projecting cylindrical thread controlling cam member. Associated with this rotary thread controlling elementis an inner thread guide and an outer thread guide. The rotary thread controlling element is provided with two similar cylindrical projecting members, the free edges of which are shaped to form take-up cams and these projecting members are spaced from each other. There is a stationary thread cam which lies between the cylindrical projecting members. This stationary thread .camand the inner thread guide are both mountedon a collarwhich. is capable of being shifted soxas to adjust the thread guide and take-up cam in 'a direction circumferentially of the rotary thread-Loontrolling element. The outer-thread guide is hinged so that it may be swung to a convenient positon for threading. The rotary thread controlling element is so positioned relative to the thread guides and the stationary thread controlling cam that the looper thread is given up to the looper after the looper point has entered the needle thread loop, and while the looperis moving forward to the end of its stroke. When the looper starts to retractthe thread controlling cam takes up the looper thread and thus takes the slack out of the looper thread between the eye of the looper and the previous stitch.

- After the point of the needle isrwell into the thread triangle, then the thread controller gives up 'slack'to thelooper thread while the looper is moving to therear end of its stroke.

ating shaft 2. The looper is indicated at 3 in the drawings, and the needle at 4:. The means for operating the needle and the looper may be of any desired construction. The looper, as shown, is mounted on a rocker 5 and the rocker 5 is oscillated through a suitable cam on the main shaft for giving to the looper its'needle avoiding movement.

There is a rock shaft mounted onthe bed of the machine which is oscillated by an eccentric on the main shaft and this rock shaft through a link 7 imparts oscillations to the looper. The present invention is directed to thethread controlling mechanism and this thread controlling mechanismv includes a rotary thread controlling element 8 which is provided with a hub 9 by which the controlling element is secured to the main actuating shaft. This rotary thread controlling element also includes a supporting disc 10 carrying laterally projecting cylinders 11 and 12 which are radially spaced from each other. The free edges of thesecylinders are curved and shaped so as to provide the active thread engaging surfaces of the controlling element. The looper thread passes from the supply through suitable guides beneath the nipper' spring 13 of the usual character. It then passes to an inner thread guide 14. This inner thread guide 14 has aguiding eye 15 and an inclined face 16 leading to the guide 15. This inner guide 15 is open so that the thread when moved along the inclined surface 16 will drop into said thread guide. The thread passes from this inner thread guide to theouter thread guide 17 which is carried at the outer end of an arm 18. The arm 18 is fixed to a pivot rod 19 mounted in a suitable bracket 20. A spring 21 serves to hold this thread guide either in its normal posi tion for the operation of the machine or in a raised position to which it may be moved to make it readily accessible for threading. The thread passes from this outer thread guide to the looper.

Associated with the rotary thread controlling element is a stationary thread cam 22. This stationary thread cam 22 is provided with an inclined face 23. The stationary thread cam and also the inner thread guide are mounted on a collar, which collar is clamped to a stationary sleeve 24 surrounding the main actuating shaft. 7

When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2 the needle is at the upper end of its stroke and the looper is at the forward end oflitsstroke. At this time the thread passes substantially in a straight line from the inner thread guide 15 to the outer thread guide 17 Slack has been given to the looper for the purpose of permitting it to freely move l to the extreme end of its forward stroke without unduly straining and breaking the thread.

At this time the portion of the thread controlling element indicated at a is directly opposite the looper thread (see Fig. '13). As

the looper retracts the thread controlling surface between the point a and the point b comes into contact with the looper thread and will carry said thread into contact with the stationary' thread cam, and the thread will be 1 forced along the inclined face 23 andthus move farther away from the thread guides. During'this time the looper is on its retracting stroke and the looper thread is taken up and drawn taut so thatthe looper thread runnfng from the eye of the looper to the previous stitch is taut when the point of theneedle moves into the looper thread triangle. As the looper continues its backward movement the portion of the controlling cam between the point 5 and thepoint 0 comes into contact with the thread and will gradually give up thread to the looper, permitting the looper to freely move to the rear end of its stroke.

As the looper starts on its forward movement the portion of the thread controlling cam between the point 0 and the point d comes into contact with the looper thread and will again take up the looper thread drawing the same back through v the point of the looper and thus preventing the looper thread from buckling in front of the eye of the looper and 5 thread is desired to permit the proper movement of the looper; At all othentimes the looper thread is under positive control and is either gradually being taken .up by the rotating thread controlling element or gradually given up by the rotating thread controlllng element. This maintains the looper thread under constant control during the movements of the looper. If the looper thread should break there i's no chanceifor it to be wound on to the rotating shafta'sthe stationary sleeve surrounding the shaft and carrying the inner thread guide and station my thread cam is directly beneath the con trolling cam edge of the rotary thread controller. The-arm 18 carrying theouter thread guide 17 is secured to the supporting bracket therefor by means through slots 20b in the arm l8'andthreaded into the bracket 20. .Thus it, is that the outer thread guide may be adjusted circumferen ti ally of the shaft 2 and 'rela-tiveto the inner thread guide. The inner thread guide 14 is carried by an arm'il ia which is curvedtoconform to the sleeve 24 and is secured thereto by a screw 14:?) passing through a, slot (not shown) and this. enables the innerthread guidelA: to be adjusted in a circumferential direction about the shaft 2 and relative to the outer thread guide. The. stationary cam 22 is carried by a .split collar 22a which ,is clamped to the sleeve by means of a bolt 2%, and thus it is that the stationary cam 22may be shifted to various set positions. r V

IjIt will be noted that th looper thread is notonlyjunderconstant control during the entire rotation of'the thread controlling element, being" given up gradually as required for use by the looper, but the threadisat' no time strained or jerked as often occurs where cast-offs are necessary for casting the thread ofi'fifrom moving cams. M 1 I y i It is. obvious that minor changes in the detailsiofconstruction and the. arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention asset forth in the appended claims. I r

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is v 1. A thread controllerfor sewing machines comprising a rotating shaft, a thread controlling element mounte on said shaft and having a laterally projecting cylindrical flange, thread guides located within .and without the periphery of the flange, I operating with said rotating controller, the edge of said flange being shaped so that the thread is under constant control during the taking up and" giving up of the thread and said stationary cam being so positioned relaof screws 20a, 20a passing a stationary cam co-- tive' to the rotating controlleras to cooperate therewith inthe takin up ,of'the thread and the'giving up of the tiread. 1

. 2. A thread. controller for sewingvililafchines comprising. a rotating shaft, a thread controlling element mounted on saidshaft and having a laterally projecting cylindrical flange, thread guides located within and without the periphery of the flange, a station,-

ary cam cooperating with said. rotating controller,;the edge. of said flange beingshaped so as. to provide a continuous curved .edge gradually extending outwardly-and thence inwardly'and again outwardly and inwardly so that the thread is under constant con.- trol and istaken up and given up twice for each'rotation of the controlling element and said "stationarycam being. so positioned rel.- ative to the rotating controller as to-cooperate therewith in the taking up of the thread and the giving up of the thread.

3. A thread controller for the-looper thread i ofa.sewing machine comprising a rotating shaft, a thread controllingelement,mounted on said. shaft and having a laterally project.- ing cylindrical flangefthread guides located within and without the periphery of the flange for holding the thread in contact with the flange, a stationary cam cooperatingwith said rotating element, the edge of said flange being shaped and the stationary cam disposed so that the looper thread is taken :up as the looper moves forward to enter the needle thread loop and is then given up to thelooper gradually under control as the looper moves to the end of its stroke. f

p 4. A thread controllerfor the looper thread of asewing machine comprising a rotating shaft, a thread controllingelement mounted on said shaft and having a laterally projectbeing shaped and the stationary cam disposed so that the looper thread is. gradually. taken upas the looper begins. its retracting move: ment and is gradually given up under control afterthe point Oftheneedle enters the looper thread triangle and until said looper reaches the end of its retracting stroke; J

5. A thread'controller for sewing machines comprising a rotating shaft, a thread control,- ling .element mounted onsaid shaft and havinga laterally projecting cylindrical flange,

thread guides located'within and without the periphery of the flange, a stationary cam coloperating with said rotating controller, the edge of said flange being shaped so that the thread is under constant control during the taking: up and giving-up of the thread, said inner thread guide'being mounted so thatgit may be'adjusted in a. circumferential direc': tion around said shaft.

6. A thread controller for sewing machines comprising a rotating shaft, 2, thread controlling element mounted onsaid shaft and having a laterally projecting cylindrical flange, thread guides located within and without the periphery of the flange, a stationary cam cooperating with said rotating controller, the edge of said flange being shaped so that the thread is under constant control during the taking up and giving up of the thread, said stationary cam being mounted so that it may beadjusted in a circumferential direction around said shaft.

7. A thread controller for sewing machines comprising a rotating shaft, a thread controlling element mounted on said shaft and having a laterally projecting cylindrical flange, thread guides located within and without the periphery of the flange, a stationary cam cooperatin with said rotating controller, the edge of said flange being shaped so that the thread is under constant control during the taking up and giving up of the thread, said inner thread guide and said stationary cam being mounted on a collar clamped to a stationary sleeve surrounding said shaft and adjustable so that the thread guideand cam may be shifted in a circumferential directionabout the axis of the shaft.

8. A thread controller for sewing machines comprising a rotating shaft, a thread controlling element mounted on said shaft and having a laterally projecting cylindrical flange, thread guides I located within and Without the peripheryof the flange, a stationary cam cooperating withsaid'rotating controller, the edge of said flange beingshaped so that the thread is under constant control during the taking up and giving up of the thread, said outer thread guide being mounted so that it is capable of adjustment toward and from a vertical plane containing the axis of the shaft.

' 9. A thread controller for sewing machines comprising a rotating shaft, a thread controlling element mounted on said shaft and having a laterally projecting cylindrical flange, thread guides located within and without the periphery of the flange, a stationary cam cooperating with said rotating controller, the edge of said flange being shaped so that the thread is under constant control during the taking up and giving up of the thread, said outer thread guide being mounted so that it is capable of adjustment toward and from a vertical plane containing the axis of the shaft, and means for supportingsaid outer thread guide whereby it may be raised to a for threading.

10. A thread controller for sewing machines comprising a rotating shaft, a thread controlling element mounted on said shaft and having radially spaced laterally projectposition readily accessible ing cylindrical flanges, thread. guideslocated within and without theperiphery ofv :said

flanges for holding the thread in contact therewith, a stationary cam disposed between said cylindrical flanges having an inclined face for engagement with the thread, said flanges being curved continuously outwardly and inwardly and said stationary cam being disposed so as tomaintain positive control on the thread during the entire rotation of the controlling element. V I

'11. A thread-controller for sewing ma chines comprising'a rotating shaft, a thread controllingv element mounted on said'shaft supporting said stationary thread camwhere- I by it maybe adjusted ina circumferential direction about the axis of the shaft.

12. A thread controller for sewing ma chines comprising a rotating shaft, a thread controlling element mounted'on said shaft and having radially spaced laterally projecting cylindrical flanges, thread guides located within and without the periphery ofsaid flanges for holding the thread in contact therewith, a stationary cam disposed between said cylindrical flanges havingan inclined face for engagement with the thread,"said flanges beingcurved continuously outwardly and inwardly'so as to maintain positive control on the thread during the entire rotation of the controlling element, said innerthread guide and saidstationaryj cam being mounted on a collar clamped to a stationary sleeve surrounding the shaft and adjustable circumferentially about the axis of the shaft. 13.A thread controller for sewing machines comprising a rotating shaft,-a thread controlling element mounted on said shaft and having radially spaced laterally projecting cylindrical flanges, thread guides located within and without the periphery of said flanges for holding the thread in contact therewith, a stationary cam disposed between said cylindrical flanges having an inclined face. for engagement with the thread, said flanges being curved continuously outwardly and inwardly and said stationary cam being disposed so asto maintain positive control on the thread during the entire rotation of the controlling element, said thread guides being disposed so that the thread is substantially straight between the guides at the maximum inward point in the curved face of the thread controlling element.

14:. A thread controller for sewing ma chines comprising a rotating shaft, a thread controlling element mounted on said shaft and having radially spaced laterally projecting cylindricalfianges, thread guides located within and without the periphery of said flanges for holding the thread in contact therewith, a stationary cam disposed between said cylindrical flanges having an inclined face for engagement with the thread, said flanges being curved continuously outwardly and inwardly so as to maintain posi tive control on the thread during'the entire rotation of the controlling element, said thread guides being disposed so that the r thread is substantially straight between the guides at the maximum inward point in the curved face of the thread controlling element,

and means whereby said inner and outer guides may be independently adjusted toward or from a vertical plane containing the axis of the shaft.

15. In a thread controlling mechanism for sewing machines, the combinationof a rotating shaft, an annular member mounted on and rotating with said shaft and havin a thread engaging face, a stationary mem er having a cam-shaped thread engaging face operating when in engagement with the thread to force the thread into contact with the thread engaging face on said rotating angive up the thread held in contact with said faces.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

7 WALTER M. HANNEMAN. 

